Appeal to help North Wales mum who has been bed-bound for almost five years

Leah Smith spends 24 hours a day in "unrelenting pain and unimaginable suffering" due to damage to her spine and central nervous system.

The ordeal for Leah, who has lived in Denbigh and Prestatyn, began in February 2017 when she experienced a "stroke-like" episode.

After being taken from her home in Denbighshire to hospital, she underwent weeks of tests including a lumbar puncture to check for multiple sclerosis.

Doctors believe the lumbar puncture caused a cerebrospinal fluid leak and she was later diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) and arachnoiditis - a pain disorder caused by the inflammation of the one of the membranes that surround and protect the nerves of the spinal cord

Leah Smith has been in constant pain for almost five years. Images: Debbie Smith

Now the 40-year-old suffers constant chronic pain; she has to lie flat and suffers from seizures and numbness.

Leah's family are desperate to help her and fear time is running out.

There is no help available on the NHS, they believe private treatment - surgeries performed on her spine and veins - in Germany could help.

Leah Smith's children Oliver, Poppy, Daisy and Summer. Images: Debbie Smith

Leah's mother Debbie Smith says the family are desperate for her to be able to be the mum she was able to be before to her children Oliver, Poppy, Daisy and Summer.

But, due to Leah's conditions, a specialist ambulance and team of carers would be needed just to get to where the treatment could begin.

Debbie said: "The children a praying for a Christmas Miracle - that is their wish for their mummy." 

The family's fundraising page says: "For the last five years Leah has been fighting with everything she has to stay with us whilst we've been fighting relentlessly to somehow get her the help and treatment she needs and so very much deserves. All of our fighting has only led to brick walls and dead ends

Leah Smith has been in constant pain for almost five years. Images: Debbie Smith

The pain is 24/7, it’s unsustainable and it has to stop

"Medical help so that you can be a mum again to your children shouldn't come down to money, yet that’s exactly how it is

"Leah has round the clock carers and is now so poorly and extremely complex and needs specialised doctors, operations and procedures in both the Uk and abroad

"We need to purchase a specialist ambulance to transport Leah as a stretcher is the only way that she can be moved from her bed to travel, even moving her this way causes seizures so travelling to Germany by road will require a team of carers to accompany her

"As you can imagine the cost for specialist transport, procedures and multiple surgeries in the uk and other countries is extremely high, the only thing left that we can do is fundraise so that Leah can stay here with us and her children

"With life threatening problems time is running out fast

"Our family urgently needs your help to save our beautiful Leah. She’s our daughter, granddaughter, sister, auntie, friend and most importantly a wonderful mummy to her incredible children."

Leah Smith has been in constant pain for almost five years. Images: Debbie Smith

The appeal, which aims to raise £300,000, has so far reached more than £9,000.

Find out more about the appeal at https://gofund.me/c54d66e8